Dallas Morning News calls Joe the "most accessible full-time elected official in the county."

Dallas Morning News Recommends: Joe Jaynes

Incumbent's knowledge and support needed on transportation issue

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, February 10, 2008

Over the years, we've had some issues with Joe Jaynes, such as two years ago when Collin County Commissioners voted themselves an overly generous pay raise. It was a back-door way to make up for the loss of a longevity bonus that outraged residents forced commissioners to rescind.

Elections are about choices, however, and Mr. Jaynes has had more highs than lows during the past 12 years representing Precinct 3 on the Collin County Commissioners Court. He's the better choice over Celina Mayor Corbett Howard in the Republican Party primary contest on March 4. The winner will face Democrat Victor Manuel, who is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket, in the November general election.

Unlike his opponent, Mr. Jaynes, a member of the Regional Transportation Council, has a realistic forward-looking approach to Collin County's rapid growth. Last year, he was the driving force during a contentious campaign to pass a $328 million bond issue for transportation, facilities and open spaces; Mr. Howard opposed the bonds that fund partnerships with cities to build roads.

Mr. Jaynes, 48, also strongly supports expanding rail service to northern Collin County and favors local option elections to give voters a voice in how to pay for it. Mr. Howard, 63, seems more wedded to conservative sound bites than concrete proposals.

He promises to scrub the budget for waste and to lower the county tax rate, noting that the Celina City Council cut the town's property tax rate five years consecutively while he has been mayor. Celina taxpayers, however, pay a higher tax rate than almost every other town in Collin County. Its tax rate is 17 percent higher than McKinney's, 22 percent higher than Allen's, 37 percent higher than Plano's and 40 percent higher than Frisco's. And yet he is running on a low-tax/no-tax theme that offers no solutions for expanding transit or building new roads.

Mr. Howard, who gets most of his support from out-of-county developers, displays an abrasive, combative style of debate that would be highly divisive and counterproductive on the Commissioners Court. For example, he attacks Mr. Jaynes for teaching classes two nights a week at Collin College, asserting that this is proof that Mr. Jaynes is not a full-time commissioner. Never mind that Mr. Jaynes gave up a full-time position at the college when he was first elected or that the college – and students – rely on part-time professors like Mr. Jaynes to keep soaring costs of education down. His "second" job is admirable, not cause for concern.

Mr. Jaynes is the most accessible full-time elected official in the county, and he offers the continuity and knowledge on transportation issues this county badly needs right now.

DMN Suburban Editorial Board